News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-03-10
THE CAPTAINS PROBATION

went to the Manor to look after
Lady Pardock's boy. He was seven
years old; sturdy, bold boy; indie
pendent, but as obedient as l have
never seen lad so young. His mothers
word was enough; he did as he was bid
den without questioning or fretfullness.
Lady Pa dock was a widow. Among
the party was Capt. Armstrong, of the
navy and the Capt. and the young heir
become great friends. Lady Pa dock
seemed to despise the Captain a little.
She was a fine, handsome woman tall,
well made an we'll dressed.
She and Henry, another guest, were
good friends. She was interested in his
mining and was quite as ready to 90
down the mine as she was to sail in Mr..
Hemphill's yacht, the Firefy.
''You are, of course, great traveller,
Captain Armstrong; she said one day
to the sailor.
NO" he replied carelessly. 81 have
been around the world - not much in it.
A sailor sees good deal, and there is
something worth seeing occasionally,
'f1o -
''Have you ever been IN a battle?"
she asked again.
''Neyer, am thankful to say" he re
piled.
''You are surely-not-not serious?'
she said.
4 am quite serious-I dread battle
OF course should fight if Ihad to do So
but trust l never shall"
81 wonder you entered the navy,
Captain Armstrong" she half sneered.
'1You should have been a Quaker"
''It was not my own choice, Lady Par
dock, " he answered.
HE would make an excellent country
parson," " she remarked to her neIghbor,
Captain Martyn- Henry; and very soon
afterward the ladies left the dining
room. From that time Lady Pardock
seemed to think the sailor what Charley
calls "a muf. u
one day we started to Ludworth
Cove. They all had heard of it, but
few had ever been there. The wind
was blowing briskly from the southeast -
a favorable quarter, and, as Mr.. Hemp
hill said, ''If it does veer to the south
west, all the better; it will bring US
home the faster"
''Won't you come, Armstrong;" asked
Mr. Hemphill.
no" q" thank you, 81 don't care much
for sailing. Besides, you are quite
enough in that craft without me. l
should only prove Jonah"
''Why, do you think a storm will
come on?"
1T does not look like settled weather,
I must saw" replied the Captain eau
tiously. But you can always scud, you
know :"
Thank you, ''replied Hemphill. 'But,
seriously, Lady Pardock, if you fear-''
Fear! l fear2 No; l think Captain
Armstrong is afraid. Let us go Mr..
to shove off The yacht was lying at a
little distance out, as the tide was low
So we went on board whittier Mrs. Car
dewe had already proceeded Captain
Armstrong had merely taken off his hat
when Lady Pardock referred to him Sc
contemptuously. But knew quite well
she respected his nature, and his cool
frmness, for all her GOODNESS to him. l
was certain she thought of what he said :,
for more than once had heard her talk
ing to her boy, and he told her what
his friend, the Captain, had hidden him
to do. Lady Pardock always agreed
wItn her son Oh these occasions So
when we reached the yacht she spoke
to the sailing master and asked him
what he thought of the weather.
Fair and square, my Lady; 1 think
it will change afore night, but, so far,
/ see nothing to be alarmed about"
perhaps the boy had better go
ashore" said Mr.. Cdrdewe.
Nonsense p said Mr.. Hemphill. Mrs
Farmer wants sail as well as ourselves.
Let the lad remain. You'd like the sea,
Sir Jocelyn?'
"Oh, yesr' he laughed; 81 love the
sear'
That decided the question. remain
ed, and we were soon under weigh,
rushing down the coast in the direction
of Portland Bill. Captain Armstrong
watched us for awhile; and then, wav-
ing his hat as a farewell, turned up
the path toward the Manor.
He encountered Charley, my husband,
and the old fisherman on the way, and
stopped, as sailors like to talk with sail
ors.
Shortly after Captain Armstrong an
nounced that he was going over to Wey-
mouth.
81 wonder you didn't go in the Firefy,
then. y remarked Miss Gradys.
'Tf had, there would have been no
body to take them dry clothes" re-
marked the sailor captain.
'Dry clothes! What do you mean2
You don't pretent to say there will be
rain this afternoon with this wind2''
cried Captain MartYn Henry. "Why,
its lovely day"
so it is, acquiesced the sailor, "but
fine days do not last forever. Do you
see those long white wisps of cloud7
Do you see that dark line to windward,
and the bank of clouds in the south
west? The wind is in those clouds; it
will blow from the southwest before
night; and, with this ripple and tide
raise a nice rf on the Lhesil Bank
That's about the only bank in England
on which do not care for o check"